RRAHMANI–FFK CRISIS DEEPENS, LAWYER HODAJ: “THE CAPTAIN’S DEPARTURE IS AN ALARM FOR KOSOVO FOOTBALL”

Kosovo football is facing a serious situation following captain Amir Rrahmani’s decision to step away from the national team for as long as the Football Federation of Kosovo remains under its current leadership.

In his statement, the Napoli defender said that for more than two years he had been subjected to continuous and coordinated attacks by individuals who, in his view, should have been protecting him.

Rrahmani did not present his decision as a permanent retirement from international football. His position is directly connected to the current leadership of the FFK and to grievances that have accumulated over recent years.

The Matter Enters the Legal Arena

The law firm Hodaj & Partners has announced that it has undertaken the legal representation of Amir Rrahmani in matters involving alleged attacks, threats, insults and damage to his reputation by key individuals within, or connected to, the Football Federation of Kosovo.

Taulant Hodaj, the head of the firm and a former secretary general and former lawyer of the FFK, responded with a lengthy statement in which he described the captain’s departure as an alarm for Kosovo football.

“When Amir Rrahmani, the captain of Kosovo and currently the most successful Albanian footballer on the international stage, declares that he cannot play for Kosovo while the FFK is led by the current individuals, this should be an alarm for everyone,” Hodaj wrote.

According to Hodaj, Rrahmani could have remained silent, continued his career with the national team and retained the captain’s armband. Instead, he chose to sacrifice his personal interests to demand change.

Hodaj claims that the captain initially attempted to resolve the problems internally without harming the national team during important sporting periods.

“Despite the continuous injustices over the past two years, he reacted publicly only after every effort to address the problems within the house of football had been exhausted,” the lawyer stated.

Allegations of Pressure and Possible Legal Violations

In his response, Hodaj claims that Rrahmani exercised restraint and did not publicly disclose all the issues he had faced.

According to the lawyer, the matter involves alleged injustices, pressure, threats and actions that may have affected not only the captain but also the functioning of the Kosovo national team.

Hodaj also raised allegations of “serious suspicions of legal violations” arising from the actions of the FFK leadership and certain individuals connected to the federation. According to him, some of these individuals were paid from the institution’s budget to discredit those demanding professionalism and accountability.

Hodaj said that during his own time as the federation’s secretary general and lawyer, he witnessed demands for better organization, professionalism and transparency failing to receive an appropriate response.

“Those who raised these concerns were obstructed, threatened and fought against by any means necessary. Today, the same thing is being attempted against captain Amir Rrahmani,” he alleged.

The lawyer also accused individuals connected to the FFK of conducting a social-media campaign against Rrahmani. According to Hodaj, the alleged campaign is intended to divert attention from the substance of the captain’s statement and from the complaint he is claimed to have submitted to the justice authorities.

These are allegations made by the player’s legal representative and do not yet constitute facts established by the competent authorities. As of September 13, 2026, the FFK had not responded to KOHA despite the outlet’s attempts to contact federation officials. (KOHA.net)

Hodaj: Rrahmani Has Not Retired from the National Team

One of the central points in Hodaj’s response concerns how Rrahmani’s decision should be understood.

“Amir did not say that he was retiring from the national team, nor did he say that he had grown tired of Kosovo. On the contrary, at the peak of his career, he is sacrificing his position as captain to demand change, professionalism and a national team organized at the level Kosovo and its players deserve,” the lawyer wrote.

Hodaj expressed confidence that the relevant institutions and justice authorities would have their say. He also stated that, as someone directly involved in some of the developments in question, he would contribute to clarifying the matter and establishing responsibility.

“Football, the national team and the FFK belong to Kosovo, not to individuals,” he concluded.

Reports Concerning Six Other Players

Meanwhile, another claim attributed to journalist Bujar Mehmeti and the account “Vigi – Football Analyst” has been circulating on social media.

According to the report, six Kosovo players, allegedly led by Edon Zhegrova, are considering publishing materials said to contain evidence of pressure and threats from individuals connected to the FFK.

The posts being circulated mention:

Edon Zhegrova Florent Muslija Arijanet Muriqi Milot Rashica Vedat Muriqi One other player whose identity remains unknown

However, at the time of this article’s publication, no public statements had been found from these players confirming that they had decided to boycott Kosovo, that they possessed such materials or that they were demanding the departure of FFK president Agim Ademi.

For this reason, claims of a united front among the players cannot be presented as confirmed fact.

The report that Edon Zhegrova “liked” Rrahmani’s post could be interpreted as a gesture of personal or professional support. However, a reaction on social media does not automatically prove that the player has joined a boycott or a coordinated action against the federation.

A Conflict with a History

Tensions between certain players and the FFK leadership are not new.

In September 2024, Edon Zhegrova, Florent Muslija and Arijanet Muriqi were removed from the squad over an alleged breach of team regulations. The players denied breaking the rules, while media reports also carried allegations that threats had been made against them.

These allegations should not be presented as established facts without an official finding or final decision from the competent institutions. (Gazeta inFokus)

Kosovo Demands Answers

Amir Rrahmani’s departure carries enormous significance. This is not a fringe player, but Kosovo’s long-serving captain, the team’s leader and one of the most successful footballers ever to represent the country.

His conflict with the FFK leadership cannot be treated as an ordinary sporting disagreement. The allegations raised by Rrahmani and his legal representative require transparency, an institutional response and an impartial investigation.

The FFK must publicly present its version of events. At the same time, every player named in the latest reports must be allowed to speak directly, without being attributed statements or decisions they have not made.

The central question is now unavoidable: Are we witnessing only the departure of a dissatisfied captain, or the beginning of a much deeper institutional crisis within Kosovo football?

The answer cannot be constructed from social-media likes, anonymous sources or unconfirmed lists. It requires official statements, verifiable evidence and action from the competent authorities.

Editorial note: Elite Sport Vizion has not independently verified the allegations or the existence of the materials mentioned on social media. Claims concerning a possible player boycott, threats, pressure and potential legal violations are published as statements and reports attributed to the respective parties—not as established facts.